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reduce
[ ri-doos, -dyoos ]
verb (used with object)
- to bring down to a smaller extent, size, amount, number, etc.:
to reduce one's weight by 10 pounds.
Synonyms: , , , , , , , , ,
Antonyms:
- to lower in degree, intensity, etc.:
to reduce the speed of a car.
Synonyms: , ,
- to bring down to a lower rank, dignity, etc.:
a sergeant reduced to a corporal
Synonyms: , ,
Antonyms: ,
- to treat analytically, as a complex idea.
- to lower in price.
- to bring to a certain state, condition, arrangement, etc.:
to reduce glass to powder.
- to bring under control or authority.
Synonyms: , , , , , ,
- Cooking. to evaporate water from (a sauce, soup, or other liquid), usually by boiling.
- Photography. to lessen the density of (an exposed negative).
- to adjust or correct by making allowances, as an astronomical observation.
- Mathematics. to change the denomination or form, but not the value, of (a fraction, polynomial, etc.).
- Chemistry.
- to add electrons to.
- to deoxidize.
- to add hydrogen to.
- to change (a compound) so that the valence of the positive element is lower.
- Chemistry, Metallurgy. to bring into the metallic state by separating from nonmetallic constituents.
- to thin or dilute:
to reduce paint with oil or turpentine.
- to lower the alcoholic concentration of (spirits) by diluting with water.
- Surgery. to restore to the normal place, relation, or condition, as a fractured bone.
- Phonetics. to modify the quality of (a speech sound) to one of lesser distinctiveness, especially to pronounce (an unstressed vowel) as (ə) or another centralized vowel, as in the unstressed syllables of medicinal.
verb (used without object)
- to become reduced.
- to become lessened, especially in weight.
- to be turned into or made to equal something:
All our difficulties reduce to financial problems.
- Cell Biology. to undergo meiosis.
reduce
/ ɪˈː /
verb
- also intr to make or become smaller in size, number, extent, degree, intensity, etc
- to bring into a certain state, condition, etc
to reduce someone to despair
to reduce a forest to ashes
- also intr to make or become slimmer; lose or cause to lose excess weight
- to impoverish (esp in the phrase in reduced circumstances )
- to bring into a state of submission to one's authority; subjugate
the whole country was reduced after three months
- to bring down the price of (a commodity)
the shirt was reduced in the sale
- to lower the rank or status of; demote
reduced to the ranks
he was reduced from corporal to private
- to set out systematically as an aid to understanding; simplify
his theories have been reduced in a popular treatise
- maths to modify or simplify the form of (an expression or equation), esp by substitution of one term by another
- cookery to make (a sauce, stock, etc) more concentrated by boiling away some of the water in it
- to thin out (paint) by adding oil, turpentine, etc; dilute
- also intr chem
- to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction with hydrogen or formation of a hydride
- to lose or cause to lose oxygen atoms
- to undergo or cause to undergo an increase in the number of electrons Compare oxidize
- photog to lessen the density of (a negative or print) by converting some of the blackened silver in the emulsion to soluble silver compounds by an oxidation process using a photographic reducer
- surgery to manipulate or reposition (a broken or displaced bone, organ, or part) back to its normal site
- also intr biology to undergo or cause to undergo meiosis
Derived Forms
- ˌܳˈٲ, noun
- ˈܳ, adjective
- ˈܳ, adverb
Other Word Forms
- t··ܳiԲ adjective noun
- ԴDzr·ܳiԲ adjective
- v··ܳ verb overreduced overreducing
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of reduce1
Example Sentences
The airport has also responded to the Secretary of State on a number of other matters including measures to strengthen sustainable design and reduce emissions.
Cutting a client's hair, Kerry explained she could not afford to take on any new apprentices this year and had been forced to reduce the hours of her current 12 apprentices to the minimum.
The rules were aimed at reducing any light which could help Germany bombers find their targets.
Disputes have flared in the past, with Pakistan objecting to some of India's hydropower and water infrastructure projects, arguing they would reduce river flows and violate the treaty.
It is one major pillar of his economic agenda, as is a cut in interest rates, aimed at reducing the cost of borrowing for Americans.
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